The Beloved Community Centerhttps://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org
An Organization for Justice, Equality, Dignity, Worth, and the enormous potential of all people.Mon, 05 Feb 2018 19:40:39 +0000enhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.2A Letter from the Four Survivors of 1979 Greensboro Massacre Currently Residing in Greensboro to the City Council of Greensborohttps://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/a-letter-from-the-four-survivors-of-1979-greensboro-massacre-currently-residing-in-greensboro-to-the-city-council-of-greensboro/
https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/a-letter-from-the-four-survivors-of-1979-greensboro-massacre-currently-residing-in-greensboro-to-the-city-council-of-greensboro/#respondThu, 02 Nov 2017 16:56:22 +0000https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/?p=986This letter was written to request that the official apology for the 1979 Greensboro Massacre rendered by the Greensboro City Council on August 15, 2017 be strengthened and placed in clearer context, based on the ample evidence of actions (and failures to act) by police and other City officials. Many of the specifics of that evidence are outlined in the letter.Final Letter to City Council regarding Apology for Greensboro Massacre.docx
]]>https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/a-letter-from-the-four-survivors-of-1979-greensboro-massacre-currently-residing-in-greensboro-to-the-city-council-of-greensboro/feed/0A Cultural, Structural and Historical Perspectivehttps://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/aculturalandhistoricalperspective/
https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/aculturalandhistoricalperspective/#respondThu, 29 Sep 2016 18:40:29 +0000https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/aculturalandhistoricalperspective/

A Cultural, Structural and Historical Perspective

IN UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF ALLOWING

GPD OFFICER TRAVIS COLE TO RESIGN WITHOUT PUNISHMENT

Offered by Reverend Nelson N. Johnson & Retired Attorney Lewis Pitts

September 26, 2016

]]>by Rev. Nelson Johnson and Retired Attorney Lewis Pitts

]]>https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/aculturalandhistoricalperspective/feed/0Protestors in 31 State Capitols Deliver “Higher Ground Moral Declaration” to Governors during National Day of Moral Action September 12, 2016https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/moraldayofaction/
https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/moraldayofaction/#respondThu, 15 Sep 2016 20:15:40 +0000https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/moraldayofaction/A vision came to life on Monday, September 12th, 2016, in 31 state capitols across the Nation; the vision of a National Day of Moral Action took place and had a major impact all over the country especially in North Carolina. ]]>By Eniola Adeniyi

A vision came to life on Monday, September 12th, 2016, in 31 state capitols across the Nation; the vision of a National Day of Moral Action took place and had a major impact all over the country especially in North Carolina.

Over 300 people gathered in Raleigh, NC on this important day in the history of the United States led by Rev. Barber who has had a vision in his heart for the last several years to raise the moral level of our state in quest of a more just nation and a more peaceful world. That vision was reflected in HKonJ and Moral Monday. More recently, he established a mission to systematically expand the work in NC and to inject into the current political debate the importance of helping the nation to view issues through a moral lens. He developed a plan called the “Moral Revival,” in which he and several other clergy traveled the nation, preaching that moral imperative. As part of that plan, he led in forming the National Day of Moral Action. From that flowed many, many tasks.

With the help and organization of Rev. Nelson Johnson, Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, the Beloved Community Center staff and friends, the call on activists, citizens, clergy, and workers from all over North Carolina was answered. The Beloved Community Center staff and core of volunteers used its rich store of relationships to draw clergy, activists, and others from Greensboro and throughout North Carolina to participate in the National Day of Moral Action. People of various backgrounds were able to gather at First Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC at 10 a.m. where they sang, prayed, organized and energized one another to start off the moral day. Monday was a day where all politicians were challenged on a moral level as clergy of all religions read the “Higher Ground Moral Declaration” ( http://www.moralrevival.org/moraldeclaration/) followed by stories by individuals who have tasted the bitter part of the unfair laws and policies. The Declaration demanded that politicians take a stance on voting rights, immigration rights, LGBTQ rights, economic rights and more, so that citizens can fully see who is moral, who is immoral and who respects all humans as equal or not. Rev. Barber made it clear that there was/is no in-between anymore.

Unlike the American Declaration, the Higher Ground Moral Declaration laid its foundation on morality and humanity challenging the foundation of this country built on genocide, slavery and exclusion of sectors of the human race.

Nearly 50 years after Rev. Dr. King’s call to break the silence, poverty and inequality are rampant, voting rights and democracy are being trampled, millions of people lack the health care, living wage jobs, and quality education they need, and racism, hatred, and bigotry are disintegrating any possibility for life, liberty and a pursuit of happiness for everyone in these United States.

Following moral traditions rooted in our faith and the Constitution, we are called to stand up for justice and tell the truth. We challenge the position that the preeminent moral issues today are about prayer in public schools, abortion, and homosexuality. Instead, we declare the deepest public concerns of our faith traditions are how our society treats the poor, those on the margins, the least of these, women, children, workers, immigrants and the sick; equality and representation under the law; and the desire for peace, love and harmony within and among nations.(http://www.moralrevival.org/moraldeclaration/)

The Moral Declaration is a perfect example of what citizens and voters should be pressing on any of the candidates that are seeking public office. Also, it energizes and awakens citizens’ moral souls leaving them questioning if they themselves are respecting all as humanity. This new awakening in all humanity across the country will bring us towards a change of heart in the American culture and government because the problem plaguing the country is not only a cultural problem, but also a heart problem.

It is fair to say that Rev. Barber’s vision intertwines with the same vision of a beloved community thus creating a new foundation for citizens, activists, clergy, and fighters of different walks in life, in Greensboro and across the globe, to build upon to transform their own city. The National Day of Moral Action in NC has played its role as a foundation and energizer for all people in North Carolina to continue to fight against all immorality.

Many thanks, once again, to all those that played a part in making this day come to life, and this is just the beginning, the rock to stand on, in this fight against immoral systems and governments.

]]>https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/moraldayofaction/feed/0Youth “Speak Out” About Life and Change in Greensborohttps://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/youthspeakout/
https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/youthspeakout/#respondWed, 31 Aug 2016 14:06:56 +0000https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/youthspeakout/What started out as a gathering where political officials operated as if they were on a public relations campaign turned into a momentous occasion in the community urging city officials to move forward on economic, educational, criminal justice and police issues.]]>By Rev. C.J. Brinson

photo by Lewis Brandon III

What started out as a gathering where political officials operated as if they were on a public relations campaign turned into a momentous occasion in the community urging city officials to move forward on economic, educational, criminal justice and police issues. Police issues proved quite contentious, focusing especially on an independent Citizen’s Review Board and the call for a resolution by the City Council to repeal House Bill 972.

The gathering, an event entitled Let Us Speak, took place at the Greensboro Coliseum and was organized by Rev. Greg Drumwright of the Citadel of Praise. Unlike typical events relegating citizens to listening to officials tell them what is in their best interest, Let Us Speak provided citizens, especially youth, with the opportunity to speak and for officials and elder citizens to do more listening.

The Mayor and the Police Chief laid out initiatives and policies addressing fundamental issues surrounding the Black community only to be called out by a few members of the community who voiced that their efforts were lackluster at best. Reverend Clarence Hunt, youth pastor at New Light Missionary Baptist Church, challenged the Greensboro Police Department, the Mayor and the City Council on its minuscule stance on the proposed Citizen’s Review Board. Rev. Hunt emphatically expressed to them that a review board not led by citizens nor independent of the police is an injustice to the public. He stressed that the police cannot police themselves.

photo by Lewis Brandon III

A young lady, also, challenged the Chief on the training methods of the Department. She quoted the words of Colin Kapernick stating that those who receive a cosmetologist license undergo a training process longer than 6 months which surpasses the training requirement of typical police officers. Her words were followed by the eloquence of a local poet, Josephus III, who spoke out against the lack of access of citizens to police body worn cameras and called upon the City Council to take a stance against HB 972 through the form of a resolution calling for the repeal of that Bill. Josephus, with the assistance of Rev. Nelson Johnson, was able to get the crowd and City officials to stand in support of having the City Council to present a resolution to repeal HB 972. It should also be noted that the Police Chief went on record indicating that he stands against HB 972 and supports a review board independent of the City’s current review board process.

Reverend Johnson reminded citizens not to be deterred by the political posturing of many leaders and insisted that the people continue to protest and not repeat the history of Greensboro in failing to make effectual change. The pattern in this city has been to present new initiatives and new faces to give the appearance of change which, according to Rev. Johnson, is cosmetic and soon fades away. Therefore, we must continue to fight until systematic changes are made to benefit all the citizens of Greensboro. Gaining momentum and support against these issues plaguing our city is not easy. However, with the efforts of the people and organizations such as Black Lives Matter, the Beloved Community Center of Greensboro, Community-City Working Group, Queer People of Color Collective, churches and faith communities, Working America, America Friends’ Service Committee and people of all races and walks of life throughout the city, we will be able to continue to move forward and to ultimately transform Greensboro into a more beloved community.

]]>https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/youthspeakout/feed/0Statement to the Greensboro City Councilhttps://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2016statementogreensboro/
https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2016statementogreensboro/#respondWed, 24 Aug 2016 21:23:36 +0000https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2016statementogreensboro/Mayor Vaughan and Members of Council, my name is Nelson Johnson. I reside at 2115 Murrayhill Road in Greensboro. I come before the Council today to ask you, as humbly, ...]]>

By Rev. Nelson Johnson- August 16, 2016

The statement below was written for presentation at the August 16, 2016 Meeting of the Greensboro City Council. Because the time for speakers was reduced from three minutes to two minutes, the statement was presented in abbreviated form. I want to take this occasion to thank City Councilpersons Yvonne Johnson, Jamal Fox, and Sharon Hightower for their positive and constructive stands during the August 16th City Council Meeting.

Mayor Vaughan and Members of Council, my name is Nelson Johnson. I reside at 2115 Murrayhill Road in Greensboro. I come before the Council today to ask you, as humbly, but as determined as I can, to take a public stand against the Faircloth Secrecy Bill, House Bill 972, a Bill that will take away your right, as a Council, to allow the public reasonable access to police body camera footage.

I have come to ask you to pass the People’s Police Body Camera Ordinance that will signal to our city, our state, and to the nation that you are not complicit in “secret government,” but in promoting government of the people, by the people, and for the people. I know, and you should know, that suppressing votes and promoting secret government are dangerous trends, cut from the same cloth, that are unfolding in our state and across the nation.

I am here, also, to insist that not one dime more be spent on police body cameras until the public is granted access to current police body camera footage. It makes no sense to spend our money buying more body camera capacity that we cannot see. Buying more cameras, the footage of which the public cannot see, amounts to a publicity stunt that adds insult to injury.

On a related matter, I heard that in the July 19th City Council meeting that my Mayor waved a sheet of paper saying that a vote to repeal the Faircloth Secrecy Bill and to pass the People’s Police Body Camera Ordinance is no more than a sheet of paper. It is tragic that my Mayor would give expression to such a flawed understanding of how real and enduring change comes about.

When this Council takes a vote standing for open and just government, the Council’s position becomes the voice of Greensboro to the residents of Greensboro, and to people all over the state. It is our declaration of intent. There would have been no “independence” for this nation without a declaration, a statement of intent and commitment. We did not just automatically become an independent nation; we had to struggle for it. A clear and powerful statement from this Council, rejecting the Faircloth Secrecy Bill and promoting the People’s Ordinance, would be our declaration and commitment. The people of Greensboro, and the state of North Carolina, cannot allow a small group of money dominated, misguided ideologues in the North Carolina General Assembly to take away the voice and, indeed, the constitutional rights of the people whether it be about voting, or holding police accountable to community standards.

Let us not forget that Greensboro is the third largest city in this state, and when the third largest city of the state declares something and stands for something, especially when it has the ring of truth, urgency and justice, people will tend to join with us. That’s how movements are built. Have our Mayor and City Council forgotten so soon the lessons of the Sit-In Movement initiated right here in Greensboro? Four people sat together. That was their declaration and commitment. It led to a National Sit-In Movement.

We need a movement now, as never before, to resist abuse of police power and secret government; a movement that promotes greater people’s governance. It is the choice of our Mayor and our City Council to join that movement, or to resist it. The people will determine your fate, and history will record your stand.

Let me conclude by declaring that, we, the people, are going to be “like a tree planted by rivers of waters, we shall not be moved.” Further, “ain’t nobody going to turn us around!” So I appeal to you, my Mayor and City Council, to let us walk together and not grow weary, for if we do not quit, we will prevail in due season.

]]>https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2016statementogreensboro/feed/0Citizens Speak Out Against Greensboro City Council’s Investing 2 Million Dollars In Police Body-Cams That Remain Hidden from the Publichttps://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2016citizensspeakout/
https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2016citizensspeakout/#respondFri, 19 Aug 2016 19:13:03 +0000https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2016citizensspeakout/Many Greensboro citizens gathered at the City Council Chambers on August 16th, 2016, for the City Council Meeting to reject the proposed resolution that called for the City to invest 2 million dollars in police body-worn cameras. ]]>

Many Greensboro citizens gathered at the City Council Chambers on August 16th, 2016, for the City Council Meeting to reject the proposed resolution that called for the City to invest 2 million dollars in police body-worn cameras. Local Leaders including Reverends, Nelson Johnson and C.J. Brinson from The Beloved Community Center, Rev. Ezekiel Ben-Israel with Trinity A.M.E Church, Rev. C. Bradley Hunt with New Light Baptist Church, Rev. Randall Keeney with St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, retired attorney Lewis Pitts, members of Queer People of Color Collective (QPOCC), Black Lives Matter, and many others took a stand voicing their disapproval of spending more money on body camera footage that the public cannot see and the failure to repeal House Bill 972 which prevents the City Council from releasing police body-worn camera footage to the public.

The majority of City Council Members showed a lack of discernment by ultimately voting for the purchase of additional police body worn cameras after debating the issue for over an hour. Three City Council Members opposed the majority voting “No” to spending 2 million dollars for footage unavailable to the public; they were all African American. The City Council’s decision not to reject House Bill 972 not only strips the council of their right to self-govern but it also denies the citizens of Greensboro their duty to exercise their democratic right of self-governance. This is an indication that the majority of the City Council has no intentions of serving the interest of the public and little understanding of the systemic culture of racism that exists within the Greensboro Police Department. We are in a dangerous moment in history where our rights are being taken away on the local, state and national levels. It is crucial that Greensboro citizens get radical about the City Council elections in November 2017 and put candidates in office who have the bold leadership required for this period that is so characterized by racial, economic and social inequities. We must continue with our fight until our victory is won!

]]>https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2016citizensspeakout/feed/0Standing Together for Voting Rightshttps://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/standingtogetherforvotingrights/
https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/standingtogetherforvotingrights/#respondWed, 10 Aug 2016 02:45:26 +0000https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/standingtogetherforvotingrights/On Monday, August 8th 2016, approximately three hundred people gathered at the County Commissioners’ Chambers to fight against Guilford County Board of Elections (BOE) attempt to suppress their voting rights. Through the efforts of Democracy NC, The Beloved Community Center, League of Women Voters and other organizations, the citizens of the Greensboro community were able to significantly reduce the boards effort to suppress voters access to the ballot.]]>

On Monday, August 8th 2016, approximately three hundred people gathered at the County Commissioners’ Chambers to fight against Guilford County Board of Elections (BOE) attempt to suppress their voting rights. Through the efforts of Democracy NC, The Beloved Community Center, League of Women Voters and other organizations, the citizens of the Greensboro community were able to significantly reduce the boards effort to suppress voters access to the ballot.

Despite the last minute notification of the BOE meeting, a flurry of emails, social media postings, and phone calls went out over the weekend to mobilize concerned citizens. By Monday morning, plans were in place for a march, a rally, and packing the BOE meeting room. The march began at the Beloved Community Center at 11:30 AM and proceeded to the Scuppernong Bookstore on South Elm Street, stopping for a short while in front of the historic Woolworth’s civil rights museum. The march ended at the Guilford County Courthouse, where the group rallied for approximately half hour before joining others who had already assembled in the County Commissioners Chamber, where the BOE meeting was forced to relocate to accommodate the crowd. During the march downtown toward the courthouse, the marchers chanted slogans such as, “Fired up, ready to vote”, “stop suppressing the vote”, shut the meeting down” or “Let the people speak.” In addition, the crowd consisted of members of various organizations including: Black Lives Matter GSO, Working America, Guilford County Democratic Women, Greensboro Faith Leaders Council, The Pulpit Forum, Greensboro Voter Alliance, Greensboro Branch NAACP, Piedmont Progressive Action, UNCG, Gate City Alumni Chapter NC A&T, and many other friends and supporters.

The overflow crowd let their presence be felt. Despite the chair’s rejection to letting the public speak, many joined together in chants and songs to show the board that they were determined to be heard. The power of the people compelled the Guilford County Board of Elections to change its previous plan and allow greater access to the ballot. The 2012 early voting plan was essentially kept in place as three additional voting sites were protected. Those sites in particular were, Barber Park, UNCG, and North Carolina A&T.

This initiative reflected a genuine striving for greater self-government. It is because of the efforts of the people that decisions, more in line with the will of the people, were made at the Board of Elections Meeting. The same spirit of determination and mobilization will be necessary to insure greater economic democracy, police accountability, quality education and accountability of publicly elected officials. Let us build on this victory to change the direction of Greensboro towards being a more just and peaceful city. Remember, organize and vote on November 8th 2016. Also, remember the November 2017 local elections are coming.

Join us Tuesday, August 16th, 2016, at 5p.m., as we engage our City Council with a range of issues including equitable distribution of bond funds, forgiveness of the debts of the civil rights museum, paid parental leave for city employees, adoption of the People’s Body Camera Ordinance and repeal House Bill 972.

]]>https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/standingtogetherforvotingrights/feed/0August 7th Recaphttps://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2014814august-7th-recap/
https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2014814august-7th-recap/#respondThu, 14 Aug 2014 16:22:07 +0000https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/uncategorized/2014814august-7th-recap/You could see democracy in action August 7th at Genesis Baptist Church on Bessemer Avenue. More than sixty people from various organizations and neighborhoods came out to be a part of the Police Accountability, Community Safety and Healing Initiative and to hear a report to the community by the Interim Citizens’ Police Review Committee.

The meeting began with two minute “shout outs” or statements identifying the presence and purpose of some of the organizations in attendance. Organizations attending included: the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Stop Mass Incarceration Network, Beloved Community Center, Creative Youth Resistance Project, Renaissance Community Coop and Unifour One. Several victims of police misconduct, as well as, former Greensboro Mayor Carol Allen and State Representative Rodney W. Moore from Charlotte was also in attendance.

Rev. Nelson Johnson of the Faith Community Church, Beloved Community Center, and the Police Accountability, Community Safety and Healing Initiative, explained the four purposes of the meeting as to discuss: 1) the problem of police accountability in Greensboro, 2) how to build a statewide movement to change the double standards and corrupt culture, 3) appropriate criteria for a new police chief in Greensboro, and 4) hear the report of the Interim citizens’ Police Review Committee.

Greensboro has never had a workable civilian oversight process for its police department. The Greensboro Police Department polices itself and is in charge of dealing with complaints issued about its misconduct. As a result of this state of affairs the GPD has developed an entrenched set of double standards and corrupt culture. For details on this state of affairs one need only consult the document published by the Beloved Community Center last year: Our Democratic Mission: Transitioning the Greensboro Police Department from Double Standards and Corruption to Accountability and Professionalism.[1] The recent shooting of Chieu Di Vo and the recent harassment of the Scales Brothers for merely walking down the street in their own neighborhood are current illustrations of this deep seated problem that must be address by the an aware community.[2]

After a brief discussion of how the two groups -the Police Accountability, Community Safety and Healing Initiative ( PACSHI) and the Interim Citizen’s Police Review Committee (ICPRC) -came together the meeting moved on to hear a proposal by two guests from Charlotte. The problem of police misconduct is not confined to Greensboro but is in fact a statewide problem. Several cities are on the forefront of devising democratic solutions to this problem. Robert Dawkins and Rep. Rodney W. Moore gave a report on a statewide initiative. Rep Moore will be introducing a bill in the state legislature to stop the practice of racial profiling and to give cities the power to give citizens police review boards subpoena power. Along with Greensboro the cities of Charlotte, Durham, and Fayetteville are on the forefront of taking progressive actions to remedy the problem of police misconduct. The gathering formally voted to support the proposed legislation to be introduced by Rep Moore and to formally endorse belonging to a statewide coalition to working on police accountability.

The co-chairs of the meeting Joyce Johnson and Wesley Morris move the meeting on to discuss the “Essential Criteria for a new police chief in Greensboro” since the current chief is moving on to Greenville, South Carolina at the end of August. Mr. Lewis Pitts, recently retired Greensboro Attorney lead this discussion. According to Mr. Pitts we have got to overcome the prevalent propaganda about the overwhelming force and violence necessary to keep the community safe. On the contrary, the most important criteria for a new police chief is commitment to the establishment of Civilian Police Review Board with subpoena power. Our new chief should understand and know about the culture of corruption, dominance and double standards. The new chief should understand and support the idea that the police are accountable to the people.

The last part of the meeting was the most important because it was devoted to hearing and discussing the report of the Interim Citizens’ Police Review Committee. Members of the Committee present included : James Mayes, Dr. Kathleen Casey, Derrick Smith , Rev. Randall Keeney and David Allen. This discussion was led by Co-chair James Mayes. While the city said we did not have the authority to set up such a body they are wrong. In our democracy power belongs to the people. So we set about the business of putting the ICPRC together under the legal and constitutional authority of the people of the City of Greensboro. The committee has been meeting since January and crafted a document that describes an independent and transparent process where the members of the committed are accountable to the community. The Committee will begin hearing cases in September 2014. The purpose of the Committee is to review and investigate all complaints regarding police misconduct and issue a ruling. The Committee is down by one member and hopes to fill the vacancy before it begins its official duties in September. As a final order of business the people assembled gave an overwhelming vote of approval for the report and work of the Committee.

[1] You can download a copy of this document by going to the Beloved Community Center’s Web site. [https://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/transitioning-greensboro/]